Closing device



Oct. 5 1926.

A.SCHULTHEIS CLOSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 19, 1925 ills-EYES STATES PATEIW.` QFFICE.

Vr'alilc" SCHULTHES, 0F JQTINTERTHUR, SWITZERLAND.

CLGSNG DEVICE.

Application filed October 19, 1925, Serial No. 63,5168, and in Switzerland Getober 30, 1924. f

rlhe invention relates to a means for retaining .fluids in and releasing them from receptacles. rThe invention is based on the it'act that an elastic annular member, when pressed inwards at two opposite points, undergoes a change or distortion in length in the direction of its parallel planes. By parallel planes is meant the planes in which the elastic annular member or actuator lies, such planes for instance would be those in Fig. 2 which pass through the length and breadth oi the actuator. v

According to the-invention this fact is utilized to open by laterally applied pressure an orifice normally closed by the elasticity of the material. For this purpose a pad, in the Jorm ot a band or the like, may Jfor example surround a-diametrieal vplane of a spherical receptacle of elastic material. The closing member or valve is securedV at one pole et the pad and tne oriiice to be closed by the member is arranged at the opposite pole. Vlhe closing member is formed so that when no external pressure is applied on the pad the rim of said orifice bears tightly, owing to the inherent tension of the pad, against the closing device and closes the orifice but when 'the pad is pressed inwards the oriiice is uncovered.

Figures l and 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrate the changes ot' form under laterally applied pressure ot pads respectively of circular and rectangular form. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section ot' a device according to the invention in which the pad is annular and in the position in which the orifice is closed. Fig. 4: is in part a cross section on the line A-B of Fig. 3 and partly a plan. 5 shows a portion ot' the same embodiment with the oriiice uncovered. Figs. 6 and 7 show two longitudinal sections mutually at right angles,'through a second embodiment, the orifice being closedin Fig. 6 and open in Fig. 7. Figs. 8 and 9 are longitudinal sections through other modiiications.

rlhe example shown in Figs. 2%5 can be used, instead of a cock for ordinary industrial purposes. a is a bulb or casing ot elas-` tic material such rubber and b is a pad or actuator integral with the bulb and surrounding it diametrically. Both the bulband the pad are open at two diametrically opposite parts and these openings are surrounded by nipples. The closing device consists of a member c, in the shape of a hollow spindle the central portion of which is fixed to or adjustably mounted inon'e of the nipples d', its' outer end protruding bef yond the nipple cl for attachment to a iieX- ible tube or the like while its inner end is Jformed into a pearshaped knob or conical tip f comprising avalve. The latter may either beA separate from or integral with the spindle Vc and is provided with a detachable covering e of softer material such as rubber. A short discharge pipe g containing theorifice to be closed is inserted into the lower nipple (Z2. The shape of the tip fand its distance from the point at which the spin-` die c is'mounted in the nipple d vare such in relation yto the-diameter ot the bulb a and Vthe size of. the bore in the discharge pipe g that when' no pressure is applied on the part b the iiared inner end of the'discharge pipel is caused to bear tightly against thertip f or its covering bythe tension due to theelasticity of the part Z). Y

It pressure is applied on each side of the bulb b, that is approximately in the direc'-r tion 5i-B, the part increases in lengt-h.

' It therefore assumes a shape somewhat similar to that shown vin Fig. 5, the discharge pipe g being consequently moved away from the tip f so that the discharge orifice is uncovered and they contents 'of thel bulb can escape through the pipeg. As soon as the external pressure on the part Z) is relieved it returns to its loriginal shape and the dis-V charge orifice is again closed.

To avoid the necessity of maintaining a constant pressure by the hand on the part b if a considerable volume of liquid is to be discharged, a strap h is mounted on a lug 'i disposed on one side and' approximately at the centre of the periphery of. the part o. Thenormal position of the said strap is that shown inFig. 3, but when the middle of the part o is pressed inwardly the strap h slides down the part Z) until it vreaches a stop situated about midway on the opposite side oi' they said part 7) and holds the receptacle a and o in the position shown in Fig. 5.

The connection between the valve spindle c and the nipple CZ may be such that the pressure of the discharge pipe g against the tip f, that is the pressure in the bulb a, can be modified by varying the longitudinal position of the nipple'relatively to the spindle.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the closing device c consists ot two parts screwthreaded together. @ne part is se cured in the part and is provided with a head 7c. rlhe other part which is provided with av head f is fitted with a sott and prelierably detachable covering c, such as a piece of rubber tubing, and projects into a length of pipe Z which carries the receptacle a and Z) by means olf the nipple (Z2, said pipe being adapted to be attached in known manner, for example, directly to a vessel. rlhe end ot this pipe inside the bulb a is provided with an annular 'lange m, which under the tersion of the pad bears against the hollow neck of the part c adjacent to the head ,t and thus closes the inlet orilice. It, however, the pad be pressed inwards trom the lett in the longitudinal direction of the spindle c, the head j will be moved away from the flange m and thereby uncover the inlet oritice in the pipe Z, so that the liquid can liow from the latter through the bulb a into the discharge pipeV g.

The part b is provided with a bore in alignment with the spindle c to enable the thread on the spindle to be reached by a screw driver or Ythe like to alter the distance between the heads f and 7c and thus modify the pressure with which the head bears against the flange fm.

To enable the valve to be kept open Yfor a considerable time without having to exert continuous pressure on the part by hand, one end ot a strap 72 is mounted in a ring g applied to the nipple (Z2. Normally, that is when the valve is closed, the said strap p occupies an obli-que position somewhat as shown in Fig. 6. `When the part Z) is pressed inwards the strap slides down over it and drops into a horizontal groove j ou a level with the spindle (Fig. 7) thus holding the part I) in the pressed in position.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 8 is intended for application to a urinal vessel. ln this case the bulb a is attached to a pau r which is connected to a catheter s and is adapted to be attached to the male organ by means of a slip on rubber sleeve. The closing memlber c secured in the nipple Z is arranged obliquely and the discharge pipe g is at an obtuse angle to the intlow-direction and the conical tip f of said member -c ordinarily closes the discharge orifice situliable to chate the wearer. to manipulate and can be emptied without contaminating any other parts.

As mentioned with reference to 2 the invention can be applied, for enainple, to cylindrical as well as to spherical hollow bodies, wth the dillerence that in such case the longitudinal contraction, instead ot ei;- tension, ot the hollow body is utilized' for uncovering the discharge orilice.

The part ZJ may be situated inside or partly inside and partly outside, instead ot' outside the hollow receptacle CZ. ln an embodiment such as represented in 6 and 7. the valve spindle o might l' It is very easy e eiitended right through the pipe and into the vessel from which liquid is to be withdrawn, so that the head f under the action of the tension oll the part Z) would bear against the end ot the pipe Z inside said vessel. ln this way a larfrer discharge aperture would be obtained than in the example shown.

rl`he characteristic feature orp the invention may be embodied in a great variety of ways, the constructional details of the Vclosing member being, for example, capable ot many modilications without departing 'troni the scope ot the invention. Theinvention is apable ot adaptation to numerous purposes and Yfor both liquid and gaseous inedia,'i"^or instance for vapours of various ki ds.'

Closing devices of the type shown Figs.

3 to 5 and S may also serve as safety valves since the internal pressure has a similar ciffect on the relative position or the walls ot' the receptacle and the spindle as the pressure described on the part Z).

@n the other hand a bulb or other hollow body for `carrying the part Z) .not always required. le pad with the necessary nipples may be termed as an independent body and the inlet member (hollow spindle c or pipe Z) may be connected directly with the discharge pipeg by means o? a suitably designed member t as shown in ig. 9. l

llfhat l claiin is f 1. ln a closing device, an elastic endless member adapted to be pressed inwards at two opposite points, while retaining its ori",` inal plane, said member having an orilice therein, a closingl member, adapted to close normally this oriiice under the action of the inherent tension of said elastic member, said ori'lice being adapted to be opened by e32- ternal pressure applied on the elastic memH ber in the direction oi its parallel planes.

2. In a closing device havingV an el;` tic annular member, a radially extending opening therein, a spindle shaped closing nieinber arranged in a plane of the annular member and secured thereto on one hand. while on the other hand the sea-t surrounch closing member by the action or" the inherent CII tension ot said annular member, but is adapted to be released from the closing member by the application ot' external pressure.

3. ln a closing device having an elastic annular member, two radially extending openings therein, a spindle shaped closing member extending radially through the annular elastic member and secured thereto, an extensible hollow bulb connecting said two openings one ot which is normally closed by the closing member under the action ot the.

inherent tension ot the annular member' but is adapted to be opened by pressing the annular member inwards. i

d. ln a closing device, a bulbous elastic body, an elastic annular pad surrounding this body, said elastic pad having two openings therein, a spindle shaped closing member secured in the pad and extending to one ot said openings, the seat ot' this latter opening bearing tightly against the closing member by the inherent tension ot said annular pad but adapted to be moved trom said member by pressing this pad inwards.

5. In a closing device, a bulbous elastic body, an elastic annularV pad integraly with and surrounding this body, said body and pad having two openings therein, a spindle like closing member rextending radially through the bulbous body to one ot said openings, a bearing tor this closing member in the pad, the length of the closing member within the bulbous body being such that the seat surrounding said opening bears tightly against one end ot the closing member und-er the action of the inherent tension ot said elastic pad, but which seat may be removed trom said end ot the closing member by an external pressure exert-'ed on the pad, and means tor altering the length ot the closing member between its bearing and said opening and thus varying the tension or pressure with which the closing member and the seat surrounding the opening bear against one another.

6. ln a closing device, bulbous elastic receptacle or body, an elastic annular pad integral with and surrounding this body, said body and pad having two openings eX- tending therethrough on diametrically opposite points thereof, a spindle like closing member extending through yone of' these openings and attached there to the pad, a bore in this member leading trom the outside into the interior et the bulbous receptacle, the seat surrounding the second of said openings bearing normally against the inner end of said closing member under the action ot the inherent tension of the elastic pad but removable therefrom by an external pressure exerted on the pad.

7. In a closing device according to claim 6, a strap pivotally mounted on the pad about in the middle of itsheight and occupying ynormally an oblique position in whica i s middle part rests on the opposite side on the periphery ot the pad, a stop on this part ot the pad situated about diametrically opposite to the pivot ot the strap, this latter being adapted to slide with its middle part down the pad when external pressure is exerted upon this pad and to be stopped on said stop.

8. A cl sing device tor 'fluids comprising an elastic actuatorhaving inlet and outlet openings; and a valve secured to the actuator at the inlet opening and adapted to close the outlet opening due to the tension of the elastic actuator, said actuator being adapted to be distorted in the direction of its parallel planes by applying pressure thereon in order to litt the valve from the outlet opening.

9. A closing device tor fluids comprising an relastic actuator having an opening; and a valve secured to the actuator and adapted to normally close the opening due to the tension ot the elastic actuator, said actuator being'adapted to be distorted in the direction ol its parallel planes by applying pressure on said actuator in order to litt the valve 'from the opening.

l0. A closing device for iiuids comprising an elastic actuator provided with an outlet; and a valvesecured at one end to the actuator and the other end adapted to normally close the outlet due to the tension ot the elastic actuator, said actuator being adapted to be distorted in the direction ot its parallel planes by applying pressure on the actuator in order to open the outlet.

ll. A closing device tor fluids comprising an elastic actuator'provided lwith an outlet; and a valve tor the actuator adapted to normally close .the outlet due to the tension ot the elastic actuator, said actuator being adapted to be distorted in the direction ot its parallel planes in order to regulate the flow through'said outlet.

l2. A closing device for fluids comprising an elastic actuator provided with an outlet; a valve secured at one end to the actuator and the other endl adapted to normally close the outlet due to the tension in the elastic actuator; and means for distorting the actuator in the direction ot its parallel planes by applying pressure thereon in order to actuate the valve. 'y

18. A closing device for fluids comprising an elastic actuator provided with an outlet; a valve secured at one end to the actuator and the other end adapted to normally close the outlet due to the tension in the elastic actuator; and a strap on said actuator for distorting it in the direction of its parallel planes by applying pressure thereon in order to actuate the valve.

let. A closing device tor fluids comprising a continuous elastic actuator having an opening therein; a valve secured to the actuator and adapted to normally close the opening due to the tension of the elastic actuator; and means for distorting the actuator in the direction of its parallel planes by applying pressure thereon in order to lift tlle Valve from the opening.

l5. A closing' device for luids comprising a casing; an elastic actuator for the casingl and provided With an opening; a valve in said casing and secured to the actuator, said Valve being adapted to normally close said opening due to the tension in the actuator; and means for applying pressure ony the actuator in order to distort it in the direction of its parallel planes to thus actuate the valve.

16. A closing device for fluids comprising a casing" an elastic actuator surrounding said casing and provided with an outlet; a

valve in said casing,` and secured to tlie actuatcr, said valve being adapted to normally close said outlet due to the tension in the actuator; and a strap for the actuator' for applying` pressure thereon in order to distort it in tre direct-ion of its parallel planes to ythus actuate the valve.

ln testimony whereof l 1nave allixed my signature. 

